Lessening stigma around mental health was, and still is, such an important aspect of my life. As a young teenager, my life was chaotic and I was continuously stigmatised by my peers, friends and family. So I knew first-hand the damage that could be done as a result of stigma, and how stifling it can be.
Having lived experience of mental health issues and been on the receiving end of mental health discrimination in the workplace (historical employer), I became a Time to Change Employee Champion when temporarily working for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as a Mental Health Community Partner.
On leaving the DWP I wanted to continue to champion mental health in the community: becoming a Time to Change Champion and a Pets As Therapy volunteer was a way to achieve this.
Like many, the pandemic has negatively impacted my mental health. The isolation, along with the gravity of the situation, brought on a sense of panic and helplessness. I’ve felt stuck, living in a world where time no longer seems to exist. The only benefit of limitless time which I’ve found is the opportunity to pinpoint the causes of my anxiety and work through those. But it hasn’t been easy.
I could see that my husband, Sam, was becoming more and more withdrawn. I remember going out together to see friends, but I could tell he was somewhere else mentally.
